Tesoro Washington refinery workers approve contract

May 21, 2012|Reuters

* Two Calif. refineries to vote on contract this week

* Anacortes fourth Tesoro refinery to OK deal.

HOUSTON, May 21 (Reuters) - Union-represented workers atTesoro's Corp's 120,000 barrel-per-day Anacortes,Washington, refinery have approved a new three-year contractwith the company, ending the threat of a strike, the UnitedSteelworkers union (USW) said on Monday.

The margin of victory among the 185 USW members at therefinery was not disclosed and a Steelworkers spokeswoman saidthe union did not plan a statement about the vote.

A Tesoro spokeswoman said the company continues to negotiatewith USW members at two California refineries.

"We are pleased with this outcome (at Anacortes)," saidTesoro's Tina Barbee. "This is the fourth of our refineries tovote for ratification of our offer. We continue to bargain ingood faith at our Los Angeles and Martinez, California,refineries, and look forward to ratification of all agreements."

The USW and U.S. refiners including Tesoro reached agreementon national issues like hourly wages in late January, but fourof the company's refineries had been unable to hammer out finalcontracts with USW locals.

The sticking point has been Tesoro's desire to be able tochange the terms of benefits offered to employees, according toUSW representatives. Tesoro has declined to discuss details ofthe talks.

Workers at Anacortes and Tesoro refineries in Mandan, NorthDakota, as well as Los Angeles and Martinez, California, hadvoted in April and May to authorize a strike if union leadersfailed to reach an agreement.

After negotiations between Tesoro and USW International VicePresident Gary Beevers, the company agreed not to changebenefits before talks begin on a new three-year contract in late2014, according to the Anacortes USW local website.

In addition to the agreement on benefits, the contractincludes an 8.5 percent increase over three years in the averagebase pay of $33.85 per hour.

The Tesoro refineries in Los Angeles and Martinez arescheduled to vote this week on the contract.